Tips for Brushing Your Toddler's Teeth

Getting a 2 year old to open his mouth, and let you get a toothbrush in there for the recommended 2 minutes can be quite a struggle. If he doesn't want to open his mouth and sit still, or if he is constantly grabbing at the toothbrush, you probably won't accomplish much. You may be tempted to just let him "do it himself," but you know his quality of brushing just won't cut it. You may even be tempted to just "let him go without brushing," but the cavities and tooth decay won't be a welcome outcome. So what do you do?

Start Early!
It may be too late for your already 2 year old, but a good tip is to start very early. You can brush your baby's gums with a soft brush even before there are any teeth in there. If you are consistent, he will just accept it as a part of life, and may be more willing to let you brush his teeth later on. I have found that most babies enjoy the feel of the brush on their gums, especially if they are teething.

Use 2 toothbrushes!
It might sound funny, but this is a great tip. If your toddler has his own toothbrush to hold while you brush, he won't be as likely to grab at the one you're trying to brush with. He feels like he is involved in the process, and he feels very special to be able to hold his own toothbrush. You can also allow him a few moments of "your turn." This means that he gets a chance to get his brush in there too, and you can let him brush a little bit, and then say "okay, now it's my turn!" He will enjoy switching it up.

Find a fun toothbrush, and toddler toothpaste that he likes!
Whether your child likes superheroes or princesses, cars, bears, bunnies, or a certain cartoon character, try to find a toothbrush with their favorite on it. This can get them excited about the whole process. "Okay, it's time to get your bunny toothbrush!" Your child will be much more willing to do it if they really like their toothbrush. Also, there are some different flavors of toothpaste out there. Find one that your child really likes and will look forward to using.

Sing a favorite song, or count!
Lately I have found that singing the ABC song, slowly, while I brush my son's teeth to be very helpful. He has something else to focus on while I'm brushing. He also knows that when I get to the end of the song, then he can be done. Children seem to be able to tolerate things much better if they can see the end in sight. He feels good knowing just how close we are to the end. It might also be fun to count to 100 while you're brushing. Then your child will know that when you get to 100, the brushing is done. It can also be an educational experience! It doesn't get much better than that, does it?

Don't fight it!
Let's say your child has been having a really off day. He's been throwing temper tantrums left and right. He's in a bad mood, and it seems the littlest things have been setting him off. You know that he is not going to be happy about having to brush his teeth. My advice is to give it a try, but don't push it. You don't want him to have a memory of toothbrushing that feels like torture. If he is screaming and crying and flailing, and just hating it, don't feel bad if you just let it go a time or two. You want him to enjoy the experience and have an overall good impression of teethbrushing as he gets older. If it's at night, just try again in the morning, or if it's after breakfast, just try again later in the day.

Give these tips a try, and chances are you and your child will have a better toothbrushing experience. You want to protect those pearly whites, and instill in your children a good habit of maintaining a healthy mouth throught their lives. It's worth it!